Valdez
Valdez: |
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Distance Between Valdez and :
Fairbanks = 368 mi / 592 km
Glennallen = 115 mi / 185 km
Anchorage = 304 mi / 487 km
Dawson City = 441 mi / 706 km
Population= 4,068
Elevation= Sea Level
Valdez lies at the southern end of the Richardson Highway.
Welcome to Alaska's (and the Western Hemisphere's!) northernmost ice free harbor. Situated on spectacular Prince William Sound the town of Valdez was originally established as a port of entry to those making their way to the Klondike goldfields in 1897. The town was part of the "All American" route to the Dawson City. This was probably the most dangerous route for the stampeder's, as it took them over Valdez Glacier where many succumbed to snow blindness, extreme cold, and crevasses. From here, they would make their way to Eagle and the Fortymile mining district, then up the Yukon to Dawson City.
The gold rush route from Valdez went through many different changes over the decades, eventually becoming the Richardson Highway ending in Fairbanks.
Valdez is blessed by awesome natural scenery similar to that along the rest of Alaska's Inside Passage. With the Gulf of Alaska to the south and the towering Chugach mountains to the north, Valdez is a outdoor enthusiasts dream come true. The town seems to have something for everyone, including sea kayaking, mountain hiking, fishing, glacier cruises or ice climbing, skiing, or snowboarding in the winter.
If you look at old photos of Valdez, you will see the Valdez Glacier behind the town. That is because the old town site, near the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, was until 1964 located about four miles east of today's location. In that same year, the Good Friday earthquake (8.6 on the Richter scale) destroyed the town with 100 foot tsunamis and landslides that battered the town. Two and a half decades later, the Exxon Valdez spilled more than 11 million gallons across 1,500 miles of shoreline in the sound. Despite these disasters, visitors today would be hard pressed to find evidence of either.
Thousands of visitors come to Valdez year round. It seems as though there is something for everyone here. The town averages over 300 inches of snow each winter, which makes it Alaska's snow capital. Winter sporting activities abound. In January of 1990 over 47 inches fell in one day!
Valdez has several Campgrounds in the city center, four hotels and several bed and breakfasts. For more information on what to do, from sea kayaking, fishing excursions, hiking, day trips, or where to stay, visit the Valdez Visitors Center. They have a wealth of information and will be able to answer all your questions about this spectacular area of Alaska.